System and method for creating a portable networked vehicle infrastructure distribution platform of small wind gathering devices

ABSTRACT

Creating a large fleet of vehicles to gather wind energy and generate wind generated energy, such as electricity, is impeded by the cost to an individual vehicle owner. Accordingly, a portable system and corresponding method to gather wind energy and deposit stored wind generated energy for system credit is provided. The present invention includes a wind energy gathering device, an energy storage system, means for depositing stored wind generated energy for system credit, and a configuration of any one or combination of the aforementioned, the configuration adapted to at least be movable from a first vehicle to a second vehicle. As such, there is an incentive for individual vehicle owners to participate in gathering wind energy and depositing wind generated energy. By taking advantage of potentially millions of participants and participating vehicles, the present invention creates a format for generating energy from multiple forms of wind energy on a wide-scale.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No.11/645,109 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A NETWORKEDINFRASTRUCTURE DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM OF FIXED AND MOBILE SOLAR AND WINDGATHERING DEVICES” filed on Dec. 22, 2006. The entire teachings of theabove application are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that solar power is derived by photovoltaic systems,solar panels made from silicon and other materials and thin film solardeployments. Solar power installations where one or more of these solarpower gathering unit devices are tied together are referred to as‘arrays’; are a method of generating clean energy that is usedthroughout the globe. Solar power generation, as mentioned previously,can come from thin film solar applications, panelized silicon crystalapplications and also from passive solar design schemes and many othersources. The cost of solar power gathering systems has gone down inrecent years while the efficiency of such systems has continued toimprove. It is also well known that wind power turbines can generatepower that can be delivered via interconnection to existing grid systemsor can be used to power individual homes, businesses and utilities.Most, if not all wind power systems that are used to gather largeamounts, in the MegaWatt range of power are large structure windturbines many of which are at least 100 feet high. In the past, smallwind powered turbines have also been placed high up from the groundusually at least 15 feet high. Also, most small wind power turbinesystems are utilized to power a single home, business or elements ofthat home or business

Currently, solar power creates under 10% of the energy market share inthe United States. Isolated uses of solar power are effective, but thereincremental installation does not create a convenient solarinfrastructure. For wind power systems large wind installations in orderof 100 foot or more sized turbines dot the landscape of the planet.These turbines are often positioned in remote fields out to sea or onprivate property away from public infrastructure. Small windinstallations of turbines and other gathering devices in the 5 to 30foot range are typically utilized in three deployments. The firstdeployment features clusters of small to mid sized turbines set up inremote windy areas such as the desert environment near Palm Desert inCalifornia. The second deployment features isolated powering of smallhomes and businesses such as those in remote arctic or extreme coldclimates where heating and cooling infrastructure does not exist, or isaugmented at the micro use level for one home or business by small windturbine implementation. The third deployment model features isolatedpowering of entities for government utilities such as isolated poweringof single light stands at the Hanauma Bay National Park public parkinglot in Oahu Hi. As of now, there are no known models for gathering windpower that may be reclaimed from moving vehicles. Projects for thereclamation of carbon and heat from water pipes and the like are underway commercially.

Conventional models have solar power being used to power individualhomes and businesses via installations on those homes and businesses.Solar power plants are becoming more popular and new isolated site powerplants are being developed in places like Korea where GE is supplyingpanels for a new 3 megawatt facility project in Yong Gwang. Isolatedsolar panels are also in use on roadways to light signs, lights andpower emergency telephones and telephone boxes. Conventional models forvehicles have vehicles outfitted with solar panels being used to powerthose same vehicles exclusively. Conventional wind models address powerplant and isolated use models for the generation and distribution ofwind power. Large turbines generate Megawatt volumes of power to beutilized locally or interconnected back to the grid system. Small windgeneration systems are typically used to solve local power issues, suchas street lights or home or business power needs as well as having theability to be interconnected to a grid system for the purpose of sellingthe power generated by the wind gathering system to a public or privateutility. Small solar and small wind deployments could be currentlyutilized on vehicles on a case by case basis based upon the vehicleowner purchasing and installing the available equipment installed on anisolated vehicle by vehicle basis.

Unfortunately, the lack of cohesive solar and wind gathering anddistribution resources have limited solar and wind power to a singledigit market shares of the overall energy use in the United States. Theideas of powering individual homes and businesses, while very effective,constitute incremental gains in the distribution and use of solar power.The same can be said for privately funded solar power plants becausemany of them must be built in remote, sunny, desert like locations farfrom easy access to the grid or direct power access to homes orbusinesses. Solar vehicles have been focused in a single priority tomake vehicles run from the solar power that they are gathering, eithersolely, or via the use of a hybrid power system that combines otherenergy sources to power the vehicle. Wind powered existing conventionaluses have certain limitations in distribution and deployment. Largeturbines have faced environmental and Defense Department concerns.Environmentalists fear that the noise and size of turbines will disruptboth scenic and habitat conditions, in addition to threatening the wellbeing of birds that may be caught in the large turbine blades.Department of Defense concerns have been raised over the large turbinesinterfering with radar signals and tracking. Large turbine systems thatare placed far away from existing infrastructure also incur a largeexpense in the transportation or building of infrastructure to carry thepower generated by the turbine system. Finally, the large turbine systemrepresents a large investment for a single turbine that is a volatileinvestment in that if the wind is not present or wind currents changethen the turbine would be viewed as a poor investment because it willnot generate enough power. Also, if the turbine breaks for any reason itis going to produce zero power as it is a large and single entity. Largeturbines also require labor intensive maintenance and monitoring. Thelife cycle for large wind turbines is 20 years and decommissioning andwaste generated by manufacture, installation and decommissioning isanother environmental issue to contend with. Small wind power utilizedin isolated areas and for private homes, businesses and individual is agreat way to introduce clean energy on a unit by unit grass roots level.The issue with isolated uses which the instant invention addresses isthat isolated uses are isolated by definition. Isolated uses do notcarry out the ability to directly power businesses or residential sitesover a long stretch of land covering tens, hundreds, thousands orhundreds of thousands of miles providing easy access to direct poweringof entities as well as multiple grid interconnection points. Currentmodels also require each individual vehicle owner to make an individualinvestment in wind power or solar power gathering devices in order to beable to install and generate power from such devices. This is a majorimpediment toward being able to create a large fleet of vehiclesgathering energy from small wind and solar gathering mechanisms ordevices. Another impediment is that the power generated from suchsystems requires a second device or hardware system in order to utilize,receive credit for energy gathered and economically benefit from thepower that is derived by the wind and/or solar gathering system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution to the problems of the priorart.

One embodiment of the present invention is a portable wind energygathering system to gather wind energy and deposit wind generated energyfor system credit. The portable system including: i) a wind energygathering device to gather wind energy and generate wind generatedenergy, ii) an energy storage system, electrically coupled to the windenergy gathering device, to store wind generated energy, iii) means fordepositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit, and iv) aconfiguration of any one or combination of the wind energy gatheringdevice, the energy storage system, and the means for depositing thestored wind generated energy for system credit, the configurationadapted to at least be movable from a first location to a secondlocation (e.g., from a first vehicle to a second vehicle).

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for gatheringwind energy and depositing wind generated energy for system credit. Themethod includes: i) gathering wind energy and generating wind generatedenergy using a wind energy gathering device, ii) storing the generatedwind generated energy in a energy storage system, and iii) depositingthe stored wind generated energy for system credit. Additionally, themethod includes configuring any one or combination of the wind energygathering device, the energy storage system, and means for depositingthe stored wind generated energy for system credit into a configuration,the configuration adapted to at least be movable from a first locationto a second location (e.g., from a first vehicle to a second vehicle).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 illustrates the implementation of the small, fixed wind turbinearrays along the roadway.

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of 5 foot high turbines.

FIG. 3 illustrates the contiguous deployment of one foot long and tinyone micron to multiple micron height wind turbines.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of wind turbines that may be covered in solargathering materials such as thin films that may be molded to parts ofthe turbine.

FIG. 5 illustrates the helix-designed wind turbines implemented in astratum layered design along the median and breakdown lanes of aroadway.

FIG. 6 illustrates the helix wind turbine power generation installed onroadways in a single uniform height.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart for how the wind energy generation bythe helix designed turbines flows through the system.

FIG. 8 illustrates solar panels positioned as contiguous strips of solarbacked films deployed along the sides and the median of a roadway.

FIG. 9 illustrates solar film molded at the installation site tospecific areas of installation to provide a cohesive and continuous orsemi-continuous implementation.

FIG. 10 illustrates the use of spray on solar power cells, hereinreferred to as solar voltaic paint which may be sprayed onto theroadway.

FIG. 11 illustrates solar panels deployed on the roadside lanes in acontinuous manner complemented by formed solar films.

FIG. 12 illustrates solar panels, which may also be solar films,deployed on the sides of the roadway.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart that defines the steps from gatheringto distribution of the solar energy roadway system.

FIG. 14 illustrates the integration of both wind and solar energygathering systems in tandem implementation along a roadway system.

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart where both wind and solar energygathering devices are implemented together.

FIG. 17A is a block diagram of an example portable wind energy gatheringsystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17B is a diagram of example implementations of a portable windenergy gathering system in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17C is a diagram of an example implementation and installation of aportable wind energy gathering system which is removably affixed to avehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates small helix wind turbine vehicle installation sheetsor placards being removably affixed to a vehicle.

FIG. 19 illustrates small helix wind turbine vehicle installation sheetsor placards removably affixed to other areas of a vehicle besides thetop in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of vehicles deployed with small helix windturbine vehicle installation sheets or placards in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21A is a flow chart for gathering wind energy and depositing windgenerated energy for system credit in accordance with an embodiment(e.g., vehicle-based) of the present invention.

FIG. 21B is a flow chart for gathering wind energy and depositing windgenerated energy for system credit in accordance with another embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates the installation of a portable solar energygathering system at a qualified service area.

FIG. 23 illustrates that no cash transaction occurs at the time ofinstallation at the power depot service station area.

FIG. 24 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles with solar installationsheets traveling down the roadway.

FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart where the solar installation sheets andbattery configuration are installed in the vehicle.

FIG. 26 illustrates portable solar and wind installation sheets beingused in tandem separately and as unified, single sheets gathering bothwind and solar energy simultaneously.

FIG. 27 illustrates an overhead view of a vehicle installed with thesolar and wind integrated panels.

FIG. 28 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles deployed with solar andwind installation sheets moving in and out of service center areas forthe installation, registration, updating and maintenance of saidsystems.

FIG. 29 illustrates a flow chart that combines the flow of energygenerated by both wind and solar installation sheets.

FIG. 30 illustrates a full integration of the fixed & portable roadwayintegrated wind and solar energy gathering roadway system.

FIG. 31 illustrates the implementation of a roadway system across theentirety of a major roadway for the example of the MassachusettsTurnpike.

FIG. 32 illustrates the implementation of a roadway system across theentirety of a major roadway for the example of the MassachusettsTurnpike.

FIG. 33 illustrates the implementation of a roadway system across theentirety of a major roadway for the example of the MassachusettsTurnpike.

FIG. 34 illustrates the flow chart of the full integration of the windand solar energy gathering roadway system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a roadway system that can provide thebasis for a national or global clean or renewable energy infrastructure.

A “road” (hereinafter also “roadway”) as used herein, is an identifiableroute or path between two or more places on which vehicles can drive. Aroad is typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easytravel by the vehicles. Also, typically, a road may include one or morelanes, one or more breakdown lanes, one or more medians or centerdividers, and one or more guardrails. For example, a road may behighway, turnpike, pike, toll road, state highway, freeway, clearway,expressway, parkway, causeway, throughway, interstate, speedway,autobahn, superhighway, street, railroad, train track, car race tackairplane runway and the like.

A “vehicle” as used herein, is any device that is used at least partlyfor ground-based transportation, for example, of goods and/or humans.For example, a vehicle may be an automobile, a car, a bus, a truck, atractor, a tank, a motorcycle, a train, an airplane or the like.

A “vehicle owner,” as used herein refers generally to a person or entityparticipating in embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, thephrase vehicle owner is used interchangeably throughout thespecification with the term “participant.” It should be understood, aperson or entity need not own a vehicle (i.e., have property rights tothe vehicle) to participate in the embodiments of the present invention.Rather, embodiments of the present invention also encompass instanceswhere a person or entity participates without owning a vehicle. Considerfor example a rental car which is owned by a car rental provider (e.g.,AVIS and HERTZ). The car rental provider rents a car to a rentee. Therentee in turns participates in embodiments of the present inventiondespite not owning the rental car.

Preferably, a vehicle can be an automobile, a car, a bus, a truck, atank, and a motorcycle. More preferably, a vehicle can be an automobile,a car, a bus, and a truck. Most preferably, a vehicle can be anautomobile and a car.

“Wind” as used herein refers to both, wind created by the movement ofvehicles (hereinafter also “dirty wind”) and atmospheric wind.

A “wind energy generating device” as used herein, is a device thatconverts wind energy into electrical energy. Typically, a wind energygenerating device can include one or more “wind turbine generators.” A“wind turbine generator” (hereinafter also “wind turbine”) as referredto herein, is a device that includes a turbine and a generator, whereinthe turbine gathers or captures wind by conversion of some of the windenergy into rotational energy of the turbine, and the generatorgenerates electrical energy from the rotational energy of the turbine.These wind turbine generators can employ a turbine rotating around anaxis oriented in any direction. For example, in a “horizontal axisturbine,” the turbine rotates around a horizontal axis, which isoriented, typically, more or less parallel to the ground. Furthermore,in a “vertical axis turbine,” the turbine rotates around a verticalaxis, which is oriented, typically, more or less perpendicular to theground. For example, a vertical axis turbine can be a Darrieus windturbine, a Giromill-type Darrieus wind turbine, a Savonius wind turbine,a “helix-style turbine” and the like. In a “helix style turbine,” theturbine is helically shaped and rotates around a vertical axis. AHelix-style turbine can have a single-helix design or multi-helixdesign, for example, double-helix, triple-helix or quad-helix design.The “height” of a wind energy generating device or wind turbinegenerator as used herein, is the height measured perpendicularly fromthe ground adjacent to the device or generator to the highest point ofthe device or generator. Wind energy generating devices can have aheight between about a few micrometers and several hundred feet. Windenergy generating devices that employ a plurality, for example, up tomillions of small wind turbine generators in one device unit are alsoreferred to herein as “wind turbine installation sheets”, “wind turbineinstallation placards.” Wind energy generation devices can be spatiallypositioned in any pattern or distribution that conforms to safety andother regulations. Generally the distribution can be optimized in viewof the given road and road environment. For example, they can bepositioned in a linear equidistant distribution, a linearnon-equidistant distribution and a stratum configuration. Wind energygenerating devices can optionally include solar energy generatingdevices as described below.

A “stratum configuration” as used herein, is a distribution of windenergy generation devices, in which wind energy generation devices thatare further away from the nearest lane of a road, are higher. Forexample, a stratum configuration of wind energy generation devicesresults from positioning the smallest wind energy generation devicesnearest to a road and successively larger wind energy generation devicessuccessively further from the road.

Typically, the average distance between any two closest ground-basedwind energy generating devices is in the range between about 5micrometer and about 200 meters.

Wind energy generating devices can be “vehicle-based,” that is, they areaffixed to any part of the surface of a vehicle that allows normal andsafe operation of the vehicle. Vehicle-based wind energy generatingdevices can be permanently affixed or mounted to the car, for example,during the vehicle manufacturing process or overlay bracing, or they canbe removable affixed using, for example, one or a combination of snap onclips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system,THULE-type locking and the like. A vehicle and a vehicle-based windenergy generating device can also include directional spoilers or wingsthat are positioned to thereby decrease air resistance of a movingvehicle and increase wind energy generation. A vehicle and avehicle-based wind energy generating device can also include a devicefor measuring the direction of the atmospheric wind at or near thepositions of one or more vehicle-based wind energy generating devicesand movable directional spoilers or wings that are moved based on themeasured wind direction information to thereby decrease air resistanceof a moving vehicle and increase wind energy generation. Vehicle-basedwind energy generating devices can generate energy while a vehicle isparked or moving. Typically, vehicle-based wind energy generatingdevices have a height of between about a few micrometers and about a fewfeet.

Any wind energy generating device that is not affixed to a vehicle ishereinafter referred to as “ground-based.” Typically, a ground-basedwind energy generating device can be positioned on part of a road onwhich its presence does not hinder the flow of traffic or pose a safetyrisk, near to a road, and on any road object on or near to a road.Examples of road objects are traffic signs, for example, traffic lights,guardrails, buildings and the like. Ground-based wind energy generatingdevices can be permanently affixed or mounted into the ground multiplesof feet deep and sometimes set into a foundation, or they can be affixedsuch that they are easily removed using, for example, one or acombination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screwmounting system, magnets, braces and ties to metal structures,THULE-type locking and the like.

The phrase “near” a road as used herein, refers to the distance of agiven ground-based wind energy generating device from a given road thatallows the ground-based wind energy generating device to capture windfrom passing vehicles (hereinafter also “dirty wind”) to generateenergy. This distance can be determined in view of the height of theturbine and the average velocity of an average vehicle passing the windenergy generating device. Typically, this distance can be up to about 40feet. For example, for a helical axis turbine of 10 feet height,positioned along a road on which vehicle travel with an average velocityof 55 miles per hour, the distance can be up to about 20 feet and forone of 5 feet height, the distance can be up to about 25 feet.

A “wind turbine array” as used herein is a plurality of wind energygenerating devices.

A “roadway system electricity grid” as used herein, refers to anynetwork of electrical connections that allows electrical energy to betransported or transmitted. Typically, a roadway system electricity gridcan include energy storage systems, systems for inverting energy, singlepower source changing units, electricity meters and backup powersystems.

A “utility grid” (hereinafter also “grid”) as used herein, refers to theexisting electrical lines and power boxes, such as EDISON and NSTARsystems.

A “direct power load” is any system, that is directly electricallyconnected to the roadway system electricity grid, that is, withoutelectrical energy being transmitted via a utility grid, and has a demandfor electrical energy, for examples, any business or home.

An “energy storage system” as used herein is any device that can storeelectrical energy. Typically, these systems transform the electricalenergy that is to be stored in some other form of energy, for example,chemical and thermal. For example, an energy storage system can be asystem that stores hydrogen, which for example, is obtained via hydrogenconversion electrolysis. It can also be any rechargeable battery.“Ground-based energy storage systems” can be positioned below or abovethe ground. “Vehicle-based energy storage systems” can be permanentlyaffixed or mounted in or on the car, for example, during the vehiclemanufacturing process, or they can be removable affixed using, forexample, one or a combination of snap on clips, adhesive magneticbonding, a locking screw mounting system, THULE-type locking and thelike.

The phrase “connected to the roadway system electricity grid” as usedherein, refers to any direct or indirect electrical connection of asolar or wind energy generating device to the roadway system electricitygrid that allows energy to be transferred from the energy generatingdevice to the grid.

A “solar energy generating device” as used herein, is any device thatconverts solar energy into electricity. For example, a solar energygenerating device can be a single solar or photovoltaic cell, aplurality of interconnected solar cells, that is, a “photovoltaicmodule”, or a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, that is, a“photovoltaic array” or “solar panel.” A “solar or photovoltaic cell”(hereinafter also “photovoltaic material”) as used herein, is a deviceor a bank of devices that use the photovoltaic effect to generateelectricity directly from sunlight. For example, a solar or photovoltaiccell can be a silicon wafer solar cell, a thin-film solar cell employingmaterials such as amorphous silicon, poly-crystalline silicon,micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indiumselenide/sulfide, photoelectrochemical cells, nanocrystal solar cellsand polymer or plastic solar cells. Plastic solar cells are known in theart to be paintable, sprayable or printable roll-to-roll likenewspapers.

A “solar energy generating device” can be ground-based or vehicle based.A vehicle-based solar energy generating device can be permanentlyaffixed or mounted to the car, for example, during the vehiclemanufacturing process or overlay bracing, or they can be removableaffixed using, for example, one or a combination of snap on clips,adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system, THULE-typelocking and the like.

A ground-based solar energy generating device can be attached to anysurface that allows collection of solar energy and where itsinstallation does not pose a safety risk or is not permitted byregulations. For example, it can be positioned on part of a road onwhich its presence does not hinder the flow of traffic or pose a safetyrisk, near to a road, and on any road object on or near to a road.Examples of road objects are traffic signs, for example, traffic lights,guardrails, buildings and the like. Ground-based wind energy generatingdevices can be permanently affixed or mounted into the ground multiplesof feet deep and sometimes set into a foundation, or they can be affixedsuch that they are easily removed using, for example, one or acombination of snap-on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screwmounting system, magnets, braces and ties to metal structures,THULE-type locking and the like.

A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.

One embodiment of the present provides lines of wind turbines and solarpower arrays running along and in the median of major roadways andhighways combined with the gathering and distribution of power resultingfrom vehicle installations of wind and solar energy gathering devicesinstalled permanently or temporarily, for free or for pay, with orwithout deposit, in use with existing highway systems like FASTLANE orrun as a completely independent program for affixing solar and windpower gathering devices on vehicles to create a widespread portablesolar energy gathering network of vehicles. Vehicles can be affixed with‘vehicle arrays’ on or adjacent to major roadways and highwayspotentially creating a solar power gathering network infrastructure ofhundreds of thousands of miles long, augmented by millions of vehiclesinstalled with solar arrays designed for vehicles for the purpose ofgathering solar power enabling vehicle owners to take advantage of thesolar network energy gathering and distribution system to be easilyequipped and compensated and for their participation via power gatheredby their vehicle system, most of both sets, vehicle and line, of solararrays will be convenient to the grid and to powering individual homes,public infrastructure and businesses. The present invention also carrieswith it the potential to move solar power into the double digit overallenergy market share in the United States. Additionally, there is a needfor an integrated small wind power infrastructure that is easilyconnected to multiple direct sources or various grid interconnectionpoints. The use of public and private highways via median and outside ofbreakdown lane installations of small wind generating devices offersnumerous advantages. First, private highways and municipalities haveexisting maintenance crew as well as existing relationships withcontracted infrastructure building providers who can be trained toinstall the wind generation systems along specified parts of roadways.Second, the wind power generation systems can be small and noiseless,small enough to fit on a median between opposite sides of a dividedhighway with existing median. Third, using a highway or other roadwayallows for the installation of many wind generating devices per milewith over 500 wind generating devices possible per mile. Fourth, theenergy generated by the devices may be distributed directly to homes orbusinesses along the highway route, such as powering homes or cleanpower for the electrolysis of hydrogen for filling stations along ahighway, either utilizing hydrogen conversion at individual fillingstations or at a conveniently located hydrogen conversion plant adjacentto the highway or roadway. Fifth, other clean energy sources such assolar, geothermal and other heat conversion technologies may be used tocreate a multi-source clean energy ‘power grid’ along with or in tandemwith the ‘grid’ in place via potential for the connection of miles ofwind power gathering, storage and transfer of generated power. Sixth,these infrastructures benefit the wind power generator companies; theroadway owners via lease or easement revenue, provide a stable andconsistent infrastructure project generating a service provider economyfor clean energy production as well as the environment. Seventh,roadways are a consistent source of wind and by having small wind energycapture generating devices close to the ground the wind energy capturedevices, such as small noiseless spiral or helix-style turbines, enablethe devices to capture wind energy generated by passing vehicles as wellas existing currents. Eighth, the power generated by this system mayalso be connected to a grid system at many different and convenientpoints located very close to the existing grid infrastructure. Thisfixed system can be utilized in tandem and complimentary ways to deployinstallations, maintenance, billing and depositing of gathered powerwith the present vehicle system, and solar systems allowing forportable, semi-permanent or permanent wind small wind turbines to beaffixed to vehicles at or near the point of entry to major roadways andhighways. Vehicle owners may pay little or no charge to have the windturbine device or devices installed on their vehicles. Deposits fromvehicle owners securing the safe return of the wind turbine energygenerating system device may be secured through participating vehicleowner's financial institutions or via cash deposit. Participatingvehicle owners, turbine installers, roadway owners or municipalities incontrol of the roadways and the owners of the turbines that areinstalled may all receive a share of the revenue from energy generated,stored and transferred into the grid or via direct distribution by thesystem after energy is generated by the individual vehicles and thatelectricity is off-loaded at designated, easily accessible, vehicle windsystem network electricity collection stations or substations. Thismodel creates a situation where drivers of vehicles do not have to spendsignificant time or financial resources to begin generating wind energywith their vehicles. This model creates a friendly format for wide-scaledistribution of wind energy generating devices for thousands of miles ofinstallations on roadways and millions of installations deployed onvehicles to take advantage of. By combining solar and wind power systemswithin this infrastructure and distribution plan the creation of acomplimentary clean energy distribution network is achieved because bothwind and solar power systems gather energy under different conditions.By having two gathering systems, if one method is not efficient at aparticular time, then the other method may still have conditions thatare effective for it to gather energy at that time. Thus the deploymentof both sources of energy gathering systems, wind and solar, along thismassive infrastructure of roadways enhances the ability to provide amore constant and stable clean power infrastructure.

One embodiment of the invention is a roadway system for energygeneration and distribution, comprising: a plurality of ground-basedwind energy generating devices; one or more roads; and a roadway systemelectricity grid; wherein each of substantially all of the ground-basedwind energy generating devices is electrically connected to the roadwaysystem electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads ornear to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation fromwind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation fromatmospheric wind.

Typically, each of substantially all of the ground-based wind energygenerating devices can be positioned on part of one of the roads orwithin between about 0 feet and about 100 feet, within between about 0feet and about 80 feet, or within between about 0 feet and about 60 feetfrom one or more of the roads. More typically, they can be on part ofone of the roads or within between about 0 feet and about 40 feet fromone or more of the roads. Preferably, they can be on part of one of theroads or within between about 0 feet and about 25 feet from one or moreof the roads. More preferably, they can be on part of one of the roadsor within between about 0 feet and about 10 feet from one or more of theroads

The present invention relates to a contiguous or semi contiguous line ofinterconnected solar panels or thin films combined with a network ofwind turbines running for thousands of total miles along public orprivate roadways. Deployments of energy gathering systems will be bothfixed stationary systems as well as mobile systems mounted on vehiclestraveling the roadways & highways. By running the solar power gatheringnetwork on or adjacent to highways or trafficked roadways the solarpower gathering network will have easy access to both gridinterconnection and local powering of public and private entities. Newadvances in solar energy gathering techniques allow for this kind ofpower gathering line system to be deployed in a more flexible,multi-form and cost efficient manner for power generation resulting inthe development of a solar energy distributed power network withmulti-gigawatt potential which may power entities directly or viainterconnection with existing grid power systems. This roadway solar“line array” deployed in the median, on the side or breakdown lane or aslane dividers creates a system that produces DC current that is thenpassed through inverter, which converts to AC current and voltage. Poweris also fed to the system by a network of vehicles deployed andinstalled with portable or permanent solar power gathering devicesseamlessly mounted to their vehicles and containing linked battery packsthat can be stored either in the trunk, inside the vehicle or attachedto the exterior of the vehicle, small noiseless to low noise windturbines to utilizing large stretches of continuous available public andprivate roadways via easements, leases or the purchase specified rightsto create thousands of miles of contiguous and semi-contiguous networksof interconnected wind turbine power generation. The wind turbines maybe mounted in the median, breakdown lanes or just off of the highway ormajor roadway. This deployment may run with a complimentary set ofinstallations that uses small noiseless to low noise wind turbines togenerate wind power by affixing those wind power generating devices tomotor vehicles. Large fleets of motor vehicles driving along availablepublic and private roadways may each be affixed with wind powergathering devices and the energy derived from these devices may be usedto power elements of the vehicle directly, or may be used to gaincredits for fuel, goods or sold for currency. Rest areas and servicestations along with all retail outlets can make these vehicle windgenerating systems available for easy purchase and installation for themotor vehicle owner. Power depots where energy is deposited from fixedand vehicle deployments, installation areas and billing systems can becombined to service both fixed and vehicle deployment installations togain efficiency and save on infrastructure cost

The power generated by the solar and wind energy gathering systems canbe used to both connect to a grid or to power homes businesses orsystems without connecting to existing grid systems. Power generated andstored in the portable battery system can be transferred into thenetwork power system at Power Depots which can be designed and installedat the same or different points of interconnection and directdistribution as the line array panel outputs. Power is logged by theelectricity meters and is either consumed immediately by home orbusiness loads, or is sent out to the general utility grid network. Theutility meter spins backwards, or two meters are used to record incomingand outgoing power. The inverter shuts down automatically in case ofutility power failure for safety, and reconnects automatically whenutility power resumes. Solar power arrays and fixed wind turbines can besituated on a median, breakdown lane or nearby running contiguous withmajor roadways and offer numerous conveniences such as easy access tothe grid, easy maintenance access and direct powering opportunities tohomes and businesses with a potential installation footprint of hundredsof thousands of miles of available roadways.

The present invention, in accordance with one embodiment relates to thecreation of a massive solar power generating infrastructure system wheresolar power generating devices are networked together along public andprivate roads creating the largest contiguous and semi-contiguous solarpower generating and distributing system ever built. This specificembodiment envisions nearly continuous solar panel and or thin film and“solar paint” mounted and deployed in the median, breakdown lane andlane dividers and connected or networked together either through abattery pack system or then to one kind of inverter for gridinterconnection or another kind of inverter for direct distribution topower users. Using an inverter applies power conditioning to the solargenerated power to enable the connection of the solar generated power tothe grid system or locally distributed power users depending on thespecific type of inverter. There may also be instances where continuoussolar ‘strip arrays’ may be connected to a single power source changingunit, or simply tied together in a parallel line connection before beingconnected to the inverter. Whatever network inverter is used may alsoneed to have an electric meter installed between the power generated bythe system to the grid or customer and the inverter. Unlike most solargathering arrays the implementations of the arrays in this system willbe mounted close to the ground, some on the ground, lane dividers orguardrails and rise no more than ten to fifteen feet high to fit intothe environmental constraints of highway and roadway deployments andenabling easy access for maintenance crew. These solar ‘strip arrays’may be connected together in parallel along with a battery back up orbackup power system in the event that the grid system fails. Theparallel ‘strip array’ systems power deployments and distribution pointswill be based upon local usage locations and access to grid points. The‘strip array’ system may be automated containing switches to feed thegrid from the local, strip array, that is networked together via batterysystem or wired in parallel to pass the electricity to the next closeststrip array parallel line or battery storage facility or to local powerdistribution users based upon need. The effect of hundreds or thousandsof miles of this implementation is to form a sub grid of solar, andpossibly other, clean power energy sources, where each distribution orinterconnection point may be measured with a standard electricity powermeter at or near the electricity's point of entry into the grid ordirect distribution customer system to gauge accurate electricity usagefor billing purposes. In a preferred embodiment solar strip arrays aredeployed on a highway system in the median on the ground level, or ontop of the median barriers, or on top of other clean power gatheringdevices in the median such as wind turbines. Solar voltaic paint systemswould gather energy from painted lane dividers and solar film would bemounted upon guardrails. These mixed systems would also be used as ismost efficient on or around breakdown lanes and on or around toll boothinstallations. The strip arrays would be networked together and thenjoined by running a power line in parallel or battery storage and thenthrough an inverted to condition the electricity properly for use in agrid system or via direct distribution. Power lines may be connecteddirectly to sources or buried or flown to appropriate distributionpoints based upon the physical characteristics of specificimplementations as well as private, local, state and federal regulationsand specifications. The vehicle solar energy gathering system is made torun in tandem and be complimentary with the ‘line array’ system. Withthe potential deployment of millions of vehicles whose owners haveelected to participate in, and be compensated by, the vehicle solarenergy gathering network system creating one of the largestsemi-contiguous solar power generating network installation anddistributing systems ever built. This specific embodiment envisionsmillions of solar paneled, thin film and “solar paint” mounted anddeployed vehicles installed with these solar energy gathering devicesfor little or no charge to the vehicle owner. The cost of acquisition ofthe equipment is borne by the network owners, who work in conjunction,or can be the same party as, various parties who have economic orstrategic initiatives to participate in the network including thevehicle installation entity for the network system, the roadway orhighway municipality owners and the power distribution and billingdepots. The installation systems, billing systems and payment systemsdescribed for solar and wind energy herein can be combined into a singleunified network. A specific embodiment to incorporate the wind energygathering infrastructure systems relates to the creation of a massivewind power generating infrastructure system where small, nearlynoiseless wind power generating devices are networked together alongpublic and private roads creating the largest contiguous andsemi-contiguous wind power generating and distributing system everbuilt. This specific embodiment envisions five hundred wind turbines permile mounted in the median and connected or networked together eitherthrough a battery pack system or then to one kind of inverter for gridinterconnection or another kind of inverter for direct distribution topower users. Using an inverter applies power conditioning to the windgenerated power to enable the connection of the wind generated power tothe grid system or locally distributed power users depending on thespecific type of inverter. There may also be instances where multipleturbines may be connected to a single power source changing unit beforebeing connected to the inverter. Whatever network inverter is used mayalso need to have a electric meter installed between the power generatedby the system to the grid or customer and the inverter. Unlike most windgathering turbines the turbines in this system will be mounted close tothe ground and rise no more than ten feet high to catch wind generatedby passing cars and enabling easy access for maintenance crew. Pods ofwind turbines will be connected together along with a battery back up orbackup power system in the event that the grid system fails. The podsystems will be based upon local usage locations and access to gridpoints. The pod system may be automated containing switches to feed thegrid in the local pod, pass the electricity to the next closest pod orto local power distribution users based upon need. The effect ofhundreds or thousands of miles of this implementation is to form a subgrid of wind, and possibly other, clean power energy sources, eachdistribution or interconnection point may be measured with a standardelectricity power meter at or near the electricity's point of entry intothe grid or direct distribution customer system to gauge accurateelectricity usage for billing purposes. In a preferred embodiment smallhelix or double helix designed wind turbines are positioned in themedian or breakdown lane to take advantage of the wind generated byvehicles as they pass. This kind of wind is known as “dirty” or unevenwind in the wind turbine business, but the helix or double helix stylewind turbines are suited to take advantage of this condition to generatepower, even when the wind is in cross directions from the wind currentsof traffic headed in opposite directions. This condition will cause thehelix-style turbine to speed up, while it may hinder the ability of awindmill style turbine to generate energy efficiently. This embodimentalso runs in tandem to a complimentary deployment that relates to thecreation of a massive wind power generating infrastructure system wheresmall, nearly noiseless wind power generating devices are affixed tovehicles who secure the acquisition of the devices through a speciallane, similar to the FASTLANE designee on a toll road, or local accesspoint to a busy roadway. The portable wind power turbine system packconsists of a small wind turbine and battery charging system. Theturbine may be metered to provide charge to an existing car battery orelectric car battery or it may be gathered to a separate unit battery,which when a light indicates the battery is full, is then available fordrop off for deposit of power into the system electricity depot for acredit against toll costs or for cash credit. The portable wind turbinedevices may be installed on the hood, top, sides, rear bumper area orundercarriage of a vehicle using magnets or bracing system that takes asquickly as under 1 minute to install . . . the battery pack may bestored next to the device or in the trunk of the vehicle.

The wind turbines may be propeller, helix, double helix or triple helixstyle wind turbines. At a wind turbine network distribution ormaintenance center the individual vehicle wind system batteries aredrained of their gathered power by connection to an inverter and thenthe vehicle owner or user is credited for the energy that has beengathered, via a credit to that users electronic account, which can bemerged with existing FASTLANE accounts or separately monitored andmaintained. Transactions may also be handled on a cash or credit cardbasis. The electricity processed by the inverter is then distributedback into the grid using one kind of inverter or distributed directly byanother kind of inverter. Both distribution methods are measured withmeters to effectuate accurate billing. Billing revenue is then shared bythe remaining stakeholders, i.e. the company owning the devices, theroadway and the installation and power Maintenance Company. There may bemore sub-contractors that are compensated in this process. There mayalso be fewer compensated parties in the event that one party controlsmultiple pieces of the system process or in the event that a roadway orpublic highway is not compensated.

The two systems, wind energy and solar energy gathering systems, canshare some or all Power Depot points, maintenance stations and billingsystems. Specific energy distribution depots may be designed into thesystem to store, channel and recondition energy for use in the gridsystem or to power direct distribution to entities seeking power fromthe network.

The concept of using roadways as distribution points, fixed solar andwind installations along roadway systems and portable solar and windenergy gathering devices on vehicles and for vehicle owners who do nothave to pay to enlist the wind energy gathering devices on theirvehicles, where infrastructure to run solar and wind energy gatheringand distribution systems via both the fixed installations and vehicleenergy gathering systems are easily accessible via roadway distributionpoints are completely new innovations to the clean energy arena.

FIG. 1 illustrates part of a roadway system implementation that containsfixed wind turbine arrays along a roadway. These ten foot double helixtype wind turbine generators (Item 1) are positioned in alinear-equidistant distribution, any consecutive pair of wind turbinegenerators about fifteen feet apart (Item 2) along a continuous row atthe edge of breakdown lanes (Item 3), or within medians or centerdividers of a roadway (Item 5). The wind turbine generators are eithermounted into the ground multiples of feet deep and sometimes set into afoundation, or secured via magnets, braces and ties to metal structures(Item 4). Helix type wind turbine generators are not dependent on singledirection wind, which is good because wind created from passing vehiclescomes in uneven and multiple directions or even cross directions (Item6) at the median point of the roadway and helix type wind turbinegenerators, in particular, of the double-helix type are suited to workwell in these conditions. Double helix wind turbine generators are alsorelatively noiseless in operation which allows using these turbines veryclose to humans. These double helix type wind turbine generators arelinked together in an energy gathering chain with one or more turbinesfeeding a single or array of batteries appropriate to the powergeneration of the individual and groupings of turbines. There can bemany, for examples, thousands of battery arrays along a single roadwayimplementation (Item 7).

The electrical energy of a ground-based energy storage system storingenergy generated, for example, from one or more wind energy generatingdevices, for example, a battery or battery array, can be fed to aninverter and then passed through a power meter as the power generated,for example, by the wind turbine generators is either delivered into autility grid system, directly distributed to a home or business, orstored for later use, for example, at peak energy demand times, byeither larger battery arrays, or via the use of the wind energy toconvert to hydrogen and then conversion of the hydrogen back to energyusing a hydrogen fuel cell technology for vehicles or grid power usage(See FIG. 5).

FIG. 2 illustrates part of a roadway system implementation that containsfixed wind turbine arrays along a roadway. Here, the use of five footdouble helix type wind turbine generators (Item 11) is shown. Typically,these five foot double helix type wind turbine generators can generateless energy than the ten foot double helix type wind turbine generators,but because they are smaller, they only need to be 5 to 7 feet apart orless. Accordingly, they can be used at higher density along roadways.Because the ten foot variety is higher up, the five foot variety may beinstalled within the ten foot variety installation and both turbines maywork along the same roadway virtually side by side creating a layeredeffect. Generally, this layered distribution in which different sizedturbines function at their own height can be used with wind turbinegenerators having heights from about 25 feet down to about a fewmicrometers. The established concept of using battery arrays, invertersand meters and distributing the power to the grid, direct distributionor reserve storage remains in force for all sizes of turbines. Theturbines may be deployed in a total contiguous manner (Item 31) or in asemi contiguous manner based upon roadway wind conditions, roadwaydesign constraints, access to utility grid, access to power storage andaccess to direct distribution sources (See FIG. 5).

FIG. 3 illustrates the contiguous deployment of one foot double helixtype wind turbine generators (Item 12), one inch double helix type windturbine generators (Item 13) and one micrometer to multiple micrometerhigh double helix type wind turbine generators (Item 21). Smaller windturbine generators allow a larger number of wind turbine generators tobe deployed within a given area than large wind turbine generators. Footlong turbines (Item 1) may be deployed only 1.5 or less feet apartdepending on the terrain and angles of deployment relative to eachturbine in the contiguous or semi-contiguous installation, while micronlength turbines can be deployed in the millions over a square foot (Item41).

FIG. 4 illustrates a helix type wind turbine generator (Item 14) thatmay be covered in solar gathering photovoltaic materials such as siliconthin films that may be molded to parts of the wind turbine generatorthat do not interfere with the wind turbine generator's fundamentaloperation, for example, the parts indicated by Item 22. The solar energythat is gathered is then fed to a central rod (Item 32) and carried downthe base of the wind turbine generator (Item 38) where it can then bechanneled via wiring typical to the industry into a ground-based energystorage system, for example, a battery pack or battery array deployment.

FIG. 5 illustrates helix type wind turbine generators implemented instratum layered design along the median (Item 15) and breakdown lanes ofa roadway (Item 23). Power generated from the wind turbine generators ispassed to battery arrays (Item 33), then inverters (hem 34) andregistered through meters (Item 35) before being distributed (Item 8) tothe utility grid (Item 81), direct power of homes or businesses (Item82), powering of vehicles (Item 83) or stored in auxiliary batteryarrays or to a hydrogen facility (Item 84) that can use the power toform hydrogen using an electrolysis process, store the hydrogen, andrelease the energy stored in the hydrogen, that is, convert the hydrogento produce power. The hydrogen facility could produce power from thestored hydrogen, for example, in times of an emergency or at peak demandtimes.

FIG. 6 illustrates helix type wind turbine generators (Item 14)implemented as a single uniform height turbine system delivering powerinto battery arrays (Item 33) then to inverters (Item 34) and registeredin power meters (Item 35) then distributing the power (Item 8) to theutility grid (Item 81), direct distribution (Item 83), auxiliary powerstorage (Item 84) or vehicle usage (Item 82).

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the flow of electrical energy or powergenerated by wind energy generating devices, for example, wind turbinegenerators (herein also “wind turbines”) (Item 16) through a roadwaysystem. The wind turbines generate energy (Item 16) which is passed viaconnected wiring to one or more ground-based energy storage systems, forexample, battery arrays (Item 33). The energy is then passed from thebattery in DC form to one ore more inverter (Item 34) which change theelectricity to AC form and conditions the electricity to thespecifications needed by the distribution point, where it is run througha meter (Item 35) then distributed to the utility grid (Item 81), one ormore vehicles (Item 82), a direct distribution point such as a home orbusiness (Item 83), fueling of an electric or hydrogen electrolysismachine or further storage via hydrogen conversion electrolysis orauxiliary battery array storage (Item 84).

FIG. 8 illustrates solar panels, which may also be contiguous strips ofsolar backed films (Item 100) deployed along the sides (Item 3) and themedian of a roadway (Item 5). Solar films may be easier to implementbecause they can be cut to fit and they can be printed out in miles ofconsecutive film during the manufacturing process. Some new films arealso not using silicon and are using nanotechnology to create new kindsof solar films such as those developed by NANOSOLAR (nansolar.com). Theability to manufacture miles of film or to cut smaller pieces in avariety of lengths and widths are preferable in view of road breaks,replacements, maintenance and physical and governmental buildingrestrictions that are factors in individual roadway implementations.Panels or backed films may be mounted to median guardrails (Item 51) orroadside guardrails (Item 52) or may be erected upon rails or beamsupporting devices that have been secured into the ground via depth orpiling techniques (Item 53). Displays of the panels or films may includecustom formation around objects, pyramid configurations (Item 54),facing flat towards the sky (Item 55), mirrored sides (Item 56), orelectronic tilts (Item 57) built to maximize the solar gatheringmaterials access to direct contact with the suns rays.

FIG. 9 illustrates how solar film can be molded at the installation siteto specific areas of installation to provide a cohesive (Items 101, 102and 103) and continuous (Item 101) or semi-continuous implementation ofsolar gathering material (Item 104) along a roadway on existingstructures of uniform and non-uniform shapes such as guardrails on theside and median of roadways.

FIG. 10 illustrates the use of spray on solar power cells, hereinreferred to as solar voltaic paint which may be sprayed onto the roadwayitself as lane markers (Item 105) or onto guardrails (Items 51 and 52)to collect both solar energy and infrared heat using a spray on solarpower cell material that utilizes nanotechnology to mix quantum dotswith a polymer to create an energy gathering material that may be fivetimes more efficient than current solar cell technology. The sprayed onmaterials would have conductive infrastructure underneath it similar tosolar films and panels with efficiently planned depot points for theenergy gathered by the sprayed on materials to be transferred to batteryarrays and inverters and then to energy distribution points such as theutility grid, direct distribution or auxiliary storage (See FIG. 5).

FIG. 11 illustrates solar panels (Item 100) deployed on the roadsidelanes in a continuous manner complemented by formed solar films withbacking formed over guardrails (Item 106) and spray on solar material.Various solar technologies may be used in concert to implement acomprehensive and contiguous or semi-contiguous implementation of solarenergy gathering materials along a roadway system. The solar panels,which may also be solar films, deployed on the sides of the roadway andthe median along with solar sprayed on power cells, “solar paint”,sprayed as roadway markers (Item 105). These roadway markers may also bedeployed in wider use on the roadway, particularly in breakdown lanes,to maximize coverage and power gathering potential.

FIG. 12 illustrates solar panels, which may also be solar films,deployed on the sides of the roadway (Item 100) and the median alongwith solar sprayed on power cells, “solar paint”, sprayed as roadwaymarkers (Item 105). These roadway markers may also be deployed in wideruse on the roadway, particularly in breakdown lanes, to maximizecoverage and power gathering potential. The gathered power istransferred via wired connection to battery (Item 33), then to inverters(Item 34) and then to meters (Item 35) which register the amount ofenergy that is distributed (Item 8) to the utility grid (Item 81), tohomes or businesses (Item 83), to vehicles (Item 82) or to and auxiliaryenergy storage or hydrogen facility (Item 84).

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart that defines the steps from gatheringto distribution of the solar energy in a roadway system. One or moresolar gathering devices such as solar panels, solar films with backingand solar spray on power cells are installed along a roadway in acontiguous or semi-contiguous configuration (Item 100). The solar energygenerating devices are networked through a roadway system electricitygrid via wiring and input and output connections (Item 9) to efficientlytake advantage of batteries and battery arrays as are standard in thesolar energy gathering industry (Item 33). The energy stored in thebatteries is then passed through an inverter or inverters (Item 34) tocondition the energy transmission to a distribution point. As the energyis passed to a distribution point the electricity provided to that pointis gauged via the use of an electricity meter (Item 35). Distributionpoints that may be delivered to include the utility grid (Item 81), avehicle (Item 82), direct distribution to a business or home (Item 83),hydrogen electrolysis and storage facility or a battery storage facility(Item 84).

FIG. 14 illustrates the integration of both wind and solar energygathering systems in tandem implementation along a roadway system. Thesystem includes installations of both wind and solar systems side byside, next to and even within energy gathering devices. Wind energygenerating devices are implemented in stratum layered design along themedian and breakdown lanes of a roadway (Item 150). Power generated fromthe devices is passed to battery arrays (Item 33), then inverters (Item34) and registered through meters (Item 35) before being distributed(Item 8) to the grid, direct power of homes or businesses, powering ofautomobiles or stored in auxiliary battery arrays or stored byconverting to hydrogen using an electrolysis process and held until thepower is needed at such times that would include emergencies orstrategically held to be sold to the grid system or direct distributionuses at peak demand times. Wind energy generating devices may also becovered with solar energy generating devices, that is, they may becovered with solar gathering materials such as thin films or spray onsolar power cells (“solar paint”) that may be molded to parts of thedevice that do not interfere with the turbines fundamental operation(Item 107). Thin film solar panels may also be combined with small, forexample, micrometer sized wind energy generating devices (Item 108). Thesolar energy that is gathered can either by used to power the windenergy generating device, for example, helix-type wind turbine generatordirectly when wind power is not available, or make the turbine of thehelix-type wind turbine generator spin faster when wind is available, orthe gathered solar power is fed to the central rod and carried down thebase of the turbine where it is channeled via wiring typical to theindustry into a battery pack or battery array deployment (Item 33), thento an inverter (Item 34), meter (Item 35) and then distributed asdiscussed above. The wind system is part of a complimentary installationwhere designed areas are allotted for both wind and solar power systemsimplementation along roadways. The solar system alongside the windsystem is comprised of one or more solar gathering devices such as solarpanels, solar films with backing and solar spray on power cells areinstalled along a roadway in a contiguous or semi-contiguousconfiguration. The solar energy generating devices are then networkedvia wiring and input and output connections to efficiently takeadvantage of batteries and battery arrays as are standard in the solarenergy gathering industry (Item 33).

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart where both wind (Item 16) and solarenergy generating devices (Item 100) as described in FIGS. 14 transfertheir energy to batteries (Item 33) then to inverters (Item 34) thenregistering the amount of energy via the meters (Item 35) before beingdistributed to the utility grid (Item 81), vehicles (Item 82), directdistribution of homes and businesses (Item 83) or utilized as storedenergy via large battery arrays or via conversion to hydrogen to be heldin compressed tanks via the creation of hydrogen via electrolysis (Item84).

FIG. 17A illustrates an example portable wind energy gathering system(Item 1700) to gather wind energy and deposit wind generated energy forsystem credit. The portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700)includes a wind energy gathering device (Item 109), an energy storagesystem (Item 111), means for depositing the stored wind generated energyfor system credit (Item 115), and a configuration (Item 1705) of any oneor combination (denoted by broken lines) of the wind energy gatheringdevice (Item 109), the energy storage system (Item 111), and the meansfor depositing (Item 115). The configuration (Item 1705) is adapted tobe “portable” or otherwise at least capable of being movable from afirst location to a second location.

The first location and the second location themselves may or may not becapable of being movable. For example, the configuration (Item 1705) isadapted to be movable from a first house (first location) to a secondhouse (second location). In another example, the configuration (Item1705) is adapted to be movable from a house (first location) to avehicle (second location) and vice versa. In yet another example, theconfiguration (Item 1705) is adapted to be movable from a first vehicle(first location) to a second vehicle (second location). The capabilityof being movable from a first location to a second location is but onecharacteristic of portability. Other characteristics of portability arealso considered by embodiments of the present invention.

For example, the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) maybe designed or otherwise configured to be removed from a first location(e.g., a first vehicle) and installed in a second location (e.g., asecond vehicle) with little or no training or technical skill. Forexample, written or graphical instructions alone are sufficient toinstall and remove the portable wind energy gathering system (Item1700). Aids, such as color coded connectors and labels, may furtherreduce the level of training or skill required to install and to removethe portable system (Item 1700).

Furthermore, the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) maybe designed or otherwise configured to be removed from a first locationand installed in a second location with common or “household” tools,such as a screwdriver and wrench(es). In some instances, the portablewind energy gathering system (Item 1700) may be installed and removedusing no tools at all, e.g., the portable wind energy gathering system(Item 1700) is installed and removed with thumb screws, hook and loopfasteners, and the like.

In another example, the portable wind energy gathering system (Item1700) may be designed or otherwise configured to be readily movable fromone location to another location. This may be achieved, for example, bydimensioning, both in size and in weight, the portable wind energygathering system (Item 1700). For example, the portable wind energygathering system (Item 1700) is of a weight and size that 90 percent ofadults are capable of moving.

In yet another example, the portable wind energy gathering system (Item1700) may be designed or otherwise configured in such a manner which“invites” the portable system (Item 1700) to be moved from a firstlocation to a second location. For example, removing the portable windenergy gathering system (Item 1700) from a first location and installingthe portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) in a secondlocation does not require a substantial amount of time, e.g., within aminute or two. In another example, the portable wind energy gatheringsystem (Item 1700) may be “ruggedized” or otherwise constructed towithstand being moved from a first location to a second location.

The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of characteristics ofportability. Nor is the above intended to suggest that a portable windenergy gathering system necessarily possess all of the abovecharacteristics of portability. The above is intended, however, tohighlight the distinction between a wind energy gathering system whichis adapted to be at least movable from a first location to a secondlocation and a wind energy gathering system which is not. One skilled inthe art will readily recognize that this distinction is not lost, butcomprehends additional characteristics of portability.

Continuing with FIG. 17A, the configuration (Item 1705) is adapted to be“portable” or otherwise at least capable of being movable from a firstlocation to a second location. In this way, the wind energy gatheringdevice (Item 109), the energy storage system (Item 111), and the meansfor depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit (Item115) of the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700), alone orin combination, may be adapted to at least be movable from a firstlocation to a second location, for example, from a first vehicle to asecond vehicle (discussed later in greater detail).

In operation, wind or wind energy (Item 1701) is gathered by the windenergy gathering device (Item 109). In turn, the device (Item 109)generates wind generated energy. That is, the wind energy gatheringdevice (Item 109) transforms or otherwise converts the wind energy (Item1701) into wind generated energy, such as electricity. The wind energygathering device (Item 109) passes the wind generated energy to theenergy storage system (Item 111). The energy storage system (Item 111)stores the wind generated energy generated from the wind energygathering device (Item 109). The stored wind generated energy isdeposited by the means (Item 115) for depositing the stored windgenerated energy for system credit. Preferably the deposited windgenerated energy (Item 1702) is in a form readily available fordownloading, storing or transmitting to a utility (or power) grid, toname a few example forms.

Any combination of the wind energy gathering device (Item 109), theenergy storage system (Item 111), the means for depositing the storedwind generated energy for system credit (Item 115), and/or theconfiguration (Item 1705) may be provided to a participant of theportable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) for little orsubstantially no cost. For example, the above are provided to theparticipant for some fraction of the total cost of the above or even forfree. In yet another example, some portion of the system credit “earned”by depositing the stored wind generated energy is applied toward thecost of the above.

Alternatively, in lieu of paying for the above, a deposit may be securedfrom the participant of the portable wind energy gathering system (Item1700) to secure the safe return of the wind energy gathering device(Item 109), the energy storage system (Item 111), the means fordepositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit (Item115), or the configuration (Item 1705). Such a deposit may be securedthrough the participant's financial institution or via a cash deposit.

In this way, participants of the portable wind energy gathering system(Item 1700) may not need to spend significant financial resources (e.g.,to purchase equipment) in order to gather wind energy and deposit windgenerated energy for system credit. Moreover, participants of theportable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) may be motivated orotherwise given an incentive to participate in the portable wind energygathering system (Item 1700).

The system credit may be reimbursed or otherwise credited to theparticipant of the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) inthe form of a toll fee credit, cash payment, credit at a participatingbusiness, municipal or governmental tax/fee credit, other publicutilities/public works credit, or the like. For example, the systemcredit may be credited toward the participant's existing account with anelectronic toll system, such as FASTLANE or EZPASS. Alternatively, thesystem credit may be credited toward the participant's account which ismonitored and maintained separately from such an electronic toll system.For example, the participant of the portable wind energy gatheringsystem (Item 1700) may use the system credit as credit in transactionswith a power company, a consumer goods company or a financialinstitution.

One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the principles of thepresent invention are not limited to the examples presented above, butmay include other forms of system credit. For example, the participantof the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) may be creditedwith a combination of one or more of the above examples.

In addition to the participant, the system credit may be divided orotherwise shared with partners of the portable wind energy gatheringsystem (Item 1700). For example, the system credit may be apportionedbetween a company owning the equipment for the portable wind energygathering system (Item 1700) (e.g. the wind energy gathering device(Item 109), the energy storage system (Item 111), the means fordepositing the stored wind energy for system credit (Item 115), or theconfiguration (Item 1705)) and a company installing such equipment forthe participant's use, such as onto the participant's vehicle. Thesystem credit may be apportioned to additional partners, such as amunicipality or a state highway department. The system credit may alsobe apportioned to fewer partners. For example, rather than separatecompanies, a single company both owns and installs the equipment for theportable energy gathering system (Item 1700). As such, the portable windenergy gathering system (Item 1700) creates a format for wide-scaledistribution of wind energy gathering devices with the potential ofhaving millions of participants.

FIG. 17B illustrates example implementations of the portable wind energygathering system (Items 1700 a, 1700 b, and 1700 c, generally 1700). InFIG. 17B, hand (Item 1712) and handle (Item 1713) are merelyrepresentative of the invention wind energy gathering system (Item 1700)being “portable.” That is, the portable system (Item 1700) is at leastcapable of being moved from a first location to a second location. Asdiscussed above, embodiments of the present invention contemplate othercharacteristics of portability, such as ease of installing and removingthe portable system (Item 1700). The handle (Item 1713) is not intendedto limit embodiments of the present invention to such a handle. Nor isthe hand (Item 1712) intended to limit embodiments of the presentinvention to a scale suggested by the hand (Item 1712). Rather, the hand(Item 1712) and the handle (Item 1713) are intended to signify that theportable system (Item 1700) is portable and to distinguish the portablesystem (Item 1700) from other systems which are not portable.

The portable wind energy gathering system (item 1700 a) includes aconfiguration (1705 a) which is adapted to be portable. Theconfiguration (item 1705 a) is a combination of the wind energygathering device (Item 109), the energy storage system (Item 111), andthe means for depositing stored wind generated energy for system credit(not shown). As such, the combination of the wind energy gatheringdevice (Item 109), the energy storage system (Item 111), and the meansfor depositing stored wind generated energy for system credit may atleast be moved from a first location to a second location. In this way,the portable wind energy gathering system (item 1700 a) includes acombination whose members are themselves adapted to at least be movablefrom a first location to a second location.

While the configuration (Item 1705 a) of the portable wind energygathering system (item 1700 a) is illustrated as configured or otherwisepackaged into a “single unit,” one skilled in the art will readilyrecognize that the system (item 1700 a) remains portable regardless ofhow the configuration (Item 1705 a) is physically packaged. In thisalternative, the portable system (item 1700 a) is portable because theconfiguration (Item 1705 a), i.e., the combination of the wind energygathering device (item 109), the energy storage system (item 111) andthe means for depositing stored wind generated energy for system creditare themselves portable regardless of being physically packaged into asingle unit.

The portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700 b) includes aconfiguration (Item 1705 b) which is adapted to be portable. Theconfiguration (Item 1705 b) includes the energy gathering system (Item111). Unlike the previous alternative, the configuration (Item 1705 b)does not include the wind energy gathering system (Item 109), nor doesit include the means for depositing stored wind generated energy forsystem credit (not shown). As such, the energy storage system (Item 111)is adapted to at least be movable from a first location to a secondlocation, while the wind energy gathering device (item 109) and themeans for depositing stored wind generated energy for system credit arenot.

The portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700 c) includes aconfiguration (Item 1705 c) which is adapted to be portable. Theconfiguration (Item 1705 c) includes the wind energy gathering device(Item 111). Unlike the previous alternative, the configuration (Item1705 c) does not include the energy storage system (Item 111), nor doesit include the means for depositing stored wind generated energy forsystem credit (not shown). As such, the wind energy gathering device(Item 111) is adapted to at least be movable from a first location tosecond location, while the energy storage system (item 109) and themeans for depositing stored wind generated energy for system credit arenot.

In this way, a portable wind energy gathering system includes aconfiguration of any one or combination of a wind energy gatheringdevice, energy storage system, and means for depositing stored windgenerated energy for system credit. Moreover, the configuration isadapted to at least be movable from a first location to a secondlocation.

In some instances, the first location is a first vehicle and the secondlocation is a second vehicle. Additionally, some or all of the elementsof a portable wind energy gathering system are removably affixed to avehicle. In such instances, the portable wind energy gathering systemmay be said to be vehicle-based. That is to say, a wind energy gatheringsystem, which is both portable and vehicle-based, is a system capable ofat least being movable from a first vehicle to a second vehicle and isremovably affixed to the vehicles.

Consider the following example of a family having a first vehicle, asecond vehicle and a vehicle-based portable wind energy gatheringsystem. The family may install the vehicle-based portable wind energygathering system onto the first vehicle by removing the portable systemfrom the second vehicle. This arrangement is advantageous, for example,in instances where one vehicle is primarily used.

FIG. 17C illustrates an example implementation and installation of aportable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) which is vehicle-basedor otherwise removably affixed to a vehicle and is at least capable ofbeing moved from a first vehicle to a second vehicle.

In this example, the configuration (Item 1705) of the portable windenergy gathering system includes the wind energy gathering device (Item109), such as a small helix wind turbine vehicle installation sheet(s).The configuration (Item 1705) is removably affixed to or otherwiseinstalled on a vehicle (Item 1000), for example, an automobile. As such,the wind energy gathering device (Item 109) is itself removably affixedto the vehicle (Item 1000) and is adapted to at least be moved from afirst vehicle to a second vehicle.

In contrast, in this example, the configuration (Item 1705) does notinclude an energy storage system and means for depositing stored energyfor system credit. Accordingly, the energy storage system and the meansfor depositing stored energy for system credit are not removably affixedto the vehicle (Item 1000), nor adapted to at least be moved from afirst vehicle to a second vehicle. For example, these elements of theportable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) may be integrated intothe vehicle (Item 1700) or otherwise not readily removed.

The configuration (Item 1705) is installed at an authorized servicestation and power depot (Item 1001) by a trained service centerattendant (Item 1002). The authorized service station and power depot(Item 1001) may be located at a toll booth, rest area, exit or otherconvenient location with cashiers (Item 1003) for making energy credit,etc. transactions.

In another example, once a vehicle and/or an owner (or a participant) isregistered with the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700)which is vehicle-based, the configuration (Item 1705) of any one orcombination of the wind energy gathering device, the energy storagesystem, and the means for depositing stored energy for system credit maybe self-installed by the participant. As such, one or more elements ofthe vehicle-based portable wind energy gathering device may in someinstances be configured or otherwise adapted to be installed by theparticipant of the vehicle-based portable wind energy gathering system(Item 1700).

FIG. 18 illustrates removably affixing the configuration (Item 1705) ofthe portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) on the vehicle(Item 1000). In this example, the configuration (Item 1705) includes thewind energy gathering device (Item 109), such as a small helix windturbine vehicle installation sheet(s). The configuration (Item 1705) isremovably affixed to or otherwise installed on the vehicle (Item 1000)via snap-on clips (Item 110) for example.

While not shown, the configuration (Item 1705) may also be removablyaffixed to the vehicle (Item 1000) via an adhesive, magnetic bonding,suction, bonding by a static electric charge between the surface of thevehicle (Item 1000) and the configuration (Item 1705), hook and loopfastener, a locking screw mounting system which is either permanently orremovably mounted during the vehicle manufacturing process, overlaybracing or other means for removably affixing the configuration (Item1705) to the vehicle (Item 1000). In this way, some elements of thevehicle-based portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700), such asthe wind energy gathering device (item 109), are removably affixed to avehicle, while other elements are not. Furthermore, the configuration(Item 1705) may be installed on the top, bottom or sides of the vehicle(Item 1000).

In the case of the wind energy gathering device (Item 109) being smallhelix wind turbine vehicle installation sheets or placards, each vehicleinstallation sheet or placard may be occupied by or otherwise secure oneor more small helix wind turbines. Individually, each small helix windturbines may be as small as a micron or as large as two feet in length.As such, in some instances, each vehicle installation sheet or placardmay be occupied by numerous (e.g., millions) small helix wind turbines.In this way, the small helix wind turbine vehicle installation sheet orplacard provides a convenient and manageable way of removably affixingone or more small helix wind turbines to a vehicle.

The portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700), or one or moreelements of the portable system, such as the wind energy gatheringdevice (Item 109), may be adapted to gather wind energy from or createdfrom a variety of sources.

Consider the example of the portable wind energy gathering system (Item1700) being vehicle-based or otherwise removably affixed to the vehicle(Item 1000) and adapted to at least be moved from a first vehicle to asecond vehicle. In this example, the wind energy gathering device (109)of the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700) may be adaptedto gather wind energy typically experienced by a vehicle.

So called “dirty wind” energy may be created by the movement of avehicle to which the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700)is removably affixed. Alternatively, the dirty wind energy may becreated by the movement of another vehicle or vehicles passing by thevehicle to which the portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700)is removably affixed. As such, a portable wind energy gathering system(Item 1700) which is vehicle-based is adapted to gather wind energycreated by the movement of at least one vehicle.

Additionally, the wind energy gathering device (109) of the portablewind energy gathering system (Item 1700) may be adapted to gather windenergy which is naturally occurring (e.g., atmospheric wind). In thisway, wind energy is gathered (and thus wind generated energy isgenerated) even when a vehicle, to which the portable wind energygathering system (Item 1700) is removably affixed to, is not moving oris otherwise stationary.

Furthermore, the wind energy gathering device (Item 109) of the portablewind energy gathering system (Item 1700) may be adapted to gather windenergy from incident wind, i.e., air movement or current falling orstriking the wind energy gathering device (Item 109) or some portion ofthe wind energy gathering device (Item 109). For example, wind energymay be gathered from a main current of air, such as air moving along theline of travel of a vehicle, striking the wind energy gathering device(Item 109) or some portion of the wind energy gathering device (Item109). In another example, wind energy may be gathered from a current ofair moving contrary to a main current of air (i.e., an eddy) strikingthe wind energy gathering device (Item 109) or some portion of the windenergy gathering device (Item 109).

Wind or more precisely a current of air may be infinitely divided intosmaller currents of air. Furthermore, each individual current of air maybe characterized with a directional vector, velocity and other physicalcharacteristics. As such, one skilled in the art will readily recognizeprinciples of the present invention contemplate such individual currentsof air and characteristics. For example, while it may be perceived atthe human scale that air is not moving, at the granularity of anindividual air current, air may nevertheless be moving from which windenergy may be gathered.

Accordingly, wind energy gathered from any combination of sources, suchas atmospheric wind, air movement caused by other vehicles or objects,and air movement caused by a moving vehicle to which a portable windenergy gathering device is removably affixed, as well as wind energygathered from incident wind striking a wind energy gathering device orsome portion of the wind energy gathering device is suitable for thepresent invention.

One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above discussionof gathering wind energy from or created from a variety of sourcesapplies to a similar extent to a portable wind energy gathering systemwhich is not vehicle-based. For example, a portable wind energygathering system capable of being moved from a first roadside locationto a second roadside location may be adapted to gather wind energycreated by any combination of atmospheric wind and air movement causedby other objects, such as passing vehicles. The portable wind energygathering system may also be adapted to gather wind energy from incidentwind striking a wind energy gathering device or some portion of the windenergy gathering device.

Furthermore, the portable wind energy gathering system may be adapted togather wind energy created from the act of porting or otherwiserelocating the portable wind energy gathering system from the a locationto a second location. Consider the example where the portable windenergy gathering system is being moved from a house (first location) toa vehicle (second location). While relocating the portable wind energygathering system from the house to the vehicle, wind energy caused bythe relocation may be gathered and wind generated energy may begenerated. In addition, wind energy created from, for example,atmospheric wind, passing objects or incident wind striking the portablewind energy gathering system, may also be gathered. In this way, aportable wind energy gathering system may not only gather wind energyand generate wind generated energy at a first and second location, butalso while the portable system is being relocated from the firstlocation to the second location.

In addition to being adapted to at least be moved from a first locationto a second location, the portable wind energy gathering system may befurther adapted or otherwise configured to be relocated via a carryingdevice, such as a trailer, wheelbarrow, dolly or the like. Consider thefollowing example where the portable wind energy gathering system isbeing moved from a field (first location) to a house (second location)via a wheelbarrow. In addition to gathering wind energy and generatingwind generated energy in the field and at the house, the same is beingdone while relocating the portable wind energy gathering system from thefield to the house.

Wind generated energy generated by the portable wind energy gatheringsystem (Item 1700) is stored by the energy storage system (Item 111),such as a battery or an array of batteries. The energy storage systems(Item 111) may be a “dry cell” battery, a “wet cell” battery, a “gelcell” battery, a fuel cell battery or a battery according to otherbattery technologies as is known in the art. The energy storage systems(Item 111) may also be, for example, a nanobattery or a batteryemploying technology at a scale of miniscule particles measuring lessthan 100 nanometers. The energy storage system (Item 111) may be locatedin the interior, exterior, trunk, underbelly, or under the hood of thevehicle (Item 1000).

FIG. 19 illustrates that the wind energy gathering device (Item 109) ofthe portable wind energy gathering system (Item 1700), such as smallhelix wind turbine vehicle installation sheets or placards, may bemounted on other areas of a vehicle (Item 1000) besides the top, such asthe bottom or underbelly of the vehicle (Item 1000). The lack of uniformwind energy and the presence of “dirty wind” energy make the use of thewind energy gathering device (Item 109) advantageous and efficient forgathering wind energy from different areas of a moving vehicle.

In the example illustrated by FIG. 19, the small helix wind turbinevehicle installation sheet or placard, in addition to securingindividual small helix wind turbines also forms a matrices grid ofwiring (Item 112). The matrices grid of wiring (Item 112) is comprisedof wiring taken from each individual small helix wind turbine. Thematrices grid of wiring from each small helix wind turbine is deliveredby one integrated wired output connection (Item 113) or wiring harnessto the energy storage system (Item 111).

FIG. 20 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles (Item 1000 a and 1000b) deployed with the wind energy gathering device (Item 109), such assmall helix wind turbine vehicle installation sheets or placards. FIG.20 further illustrates a detailed view of the wind energy gatheringdevice (Item 109).

In operation, as the vehicle (Item 1000 a) travels along a roadway, thevehicle (Item 1000 a) gathers wind energy and generates wind generatedenergy. The wind generated energy is locally stored in the energystorage system (Item 111) of the vehicle (Item 1000 a). The stored windgenerated energy is deposited for system credit using a means fordepositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 20, the vehicle 1000 a passes througha toll booth service area (Item 1001) and deposits the stored windgenerated energy by exchanging a charged battery with an unchargedbattery (not shown). System credit is credited in an automated manner orby a cashier (Item 1003) of FIG. 17B according to an amount of windgenerated energy deposited by the charged battery. As such, one meansfor depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit is afirst battery adapted to be readily exchanged with a second battery.

In some instances, while the first and second batteries are adapted tobe readily exchanged, such batteries may not be adapted to be readilyexchanged with a third battery, i.e., the third battery is incompatiblewith the first and second batteries. In this way, wind generated energystored in a vehicle participating in a first vehicle-based portable windenergy gathering system may not be deposited in a second vehicle-basedportable wind energy gathering system.

In other instances, batteries used to deposit stored wind generatedenergy are universally compatible (e.g., via an adapter or a converter)amongst various vehicle-based portable wind energy gathering systems. Assuch, stored wind generated energy may be deposited in a vehicle-basedportable wind energy gathering system regardless of participation in aparticular vehicle-based portable wind energy gathering system.

Another means for depositing stored wind generated energy for systemcredit is an electrical connector, such as a plug, socket, paddle, orcombinations thereof through which stored wind generated energy istransferred, transmitted or otherwise deposited.

Yet another means for depositing stored wind generated energy for systemcredit is one or more elements of the vehicle (Item 1000 a) adapted tobe directly powered by wind generated energy. A participant is creditedwith system credit for the wind generated energy used or consumed bysuch elements of the vehicle (Item 1000 a). In this way, participant is“rewarded” for consuming wind generated energy to power elements of thevehicle.

For example, an air conditioner of a vehicle is adapted to be directlypowered by wind generated energy in addition to gasoline. Theparticipant is rewarded system credit when the air conditioner ispowered by wind generated energy and not by gasoline.

Yet another means for depositing the stored wind generated energy forsystem credit includes any combinations of one or more of the aboveexamples. As such, stored wind generated energy may be deposited forsystem credit in one or more ways, thus providing flexibility and/oruniversality.

In addition to depositing stored wind generated energy, the toll boothservice areas (Item 1001) may also install, remove or maintain avehicle-based portable wind energy gathering system or one or moreelements of the portable system, such as the wind energy gatheringdevice (Item 109), the energy storage system (Item 111), and the meansfor depositing wind generated energy for system credit (e.g., the means115 of FIG. 17A). The toll booth service areas (Item 1001) may alsoprovide account information of vehicles and/or participants of thevehicle-based portable wind energy gathering system.

FIG. 21A illustrates an example process of the portable wind energygathering system (Item 1700) for gathering wind energy and depositingwind generated energy for system credit. The portable system (Item 1700)gathers (Item 2105) wind energy and generates wind generated energyusing a wind energy gathering device (e.g., Item 109 of FIG. 17A). Theportable system (Item 1700) stores (Item 2110) the generated windgenerated energy in a energy storage system (e.g., Item 111 of FIG.17A). The portable system (Item 1700) deposits (Item 2115) the storedwind generated energy for system credit. Optionally, the portable system(Item 1700) configures (not shown) any one or combination of the windenergy gathering device, the energy storage system, and the means ofdepositing stored wind generated energy into a configuration adapted toat least be moved from a first location to a second location.

FIG. 21B illustrates an example process of another embodiment of theportable wind energy gathering system (Item 2150) for gathering windenergy and depositing wind generated energy for system credit. Theexample portable system (Item 2150) installs (Item 1090) a configurationof any one or combination of a wind energy gathering device (e.g., Item109 of FIG. 17A), such as small helix wind turbine installation sheetsor placards, a energy storage system (e.g., Item 111 of FIG. 17A), suchas a battery or array of batteries, and means for depositing stored windgenerated energy for system credit (e.g., Item 115 of FIG. 17A) into oronto a subject vehicle (e.g., Item 1000 a of FIG. 20).

The example system (Item 2150) registers (Item 1091) the vehicle (Item1000) and a participant (e.g., an owner of the vehicle) with theportable wind energy gathering system (Item 2150). The example portablesystem (Item 2150) deploys (Item 1092) the vehicle (Item 1000) onto aroad or roadway system. The example portable system (Item 2150) gathers(Item 1093) wind energy and generates wind generated energy (or power)using the wind energy gathering device (e.g., Item 109 of FIG. 17A). Theexample portable system (Item 2150) stores (Item 1094) wind generatedenergy in the energy storage system (e.g., Item 111 of FIG. 17A).

The example portable system (Item 2150) deposits (Item 1095) the storedwind generated energy by turning in or exchanging the battery or thearray of batteries at, for example, a service center (e.g., Item 1001 ofFIG. 20). The example portable system (Item 2150) identifies (not shown)the deposited wind generated energy as being deposited by the vehicleand/or the participant registered with the vehicle-based portable windenergy gathering system (Item 2150). The example portable system (Item2150) credits the identified vehicle and/or participant.

The example portable system (Item 2150) distributes (Item 8) thedeposited wind generated energy to, for example, a utility grid (Item81). In the case of the example portable system (Item 2150) distributing(Item 8) the deposited wind generated energy to the utility grid (Item81), the example portable system (Item 2150) power conditions (notshown) the wind generated energy using an inverter.

In another example, the example portable system (Item 2150) distributes(Item 8) the deposited wind generated energy directly to a vehicle (Item82).

In yet another example, the example portable system (Item 2150)distributes (Item 8) the deposited wind generated energy directly to abusiness or home (Item 83), i.e., direct power.

In yet still another example, the example portable system (Item 2150)distributes (Item 8) the deposited wind generated energy to an auxiliarybattery or array of batteries (Item 84) for energy storage or forhydrogen electrolysis.

In another example, the example portable system (Item 2150) distributes(Item 8) the deposited wind generated energy to a roadway systemelectricity grid (Item 85) described in the U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/624,987 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A NETWORKEDINFRASTRUCTURE DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM OF SOLAR ENERGY GATHERING DEVICES,”filed Jan. 19, 2007, assigned to GENEDICS LLC, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 22 illustrates the installation of a portable solar energygathering system (Item 114) at a qualified service area (Item 1001)installed on a vehicle (Item 1000) by a service center trained installer(Item 1002). The solar installation sheets (Item 114) may be affixed tothe vehicle via snap on clips, adhesive, magnetic bonding, bonded by astatic charge between the vehicle surface and the installation sheet, bya locking screw mounting system, permanently or removable installationof a mounting during the vehicle manufacturing process or overlaybracing. The battery to store the power or battery array may be on theinterior, exterior, trunk or underbelly, or under the hood of thevehicle. The solar installation sheets may be mounted on the top, hood,trunk or sides of a vehicle.

FIG. 23 illustrates that no cash transaction occurs at the time ofinstallation at the power depot service station area (Item 1000), withthe exception of a credit card or other security registration/depositsystem (Item 1004). By charging the vehicle owner (Item 1005) nothing,very little and possibly securing a deposit against the value of theequipment the vehicle owner (Item 1005) gains incentive to create valuefor himself by participating in the gathering of clean energy with nofinancial investment needed.

FIG. 24 illustrates an overhead view of vehicles with solar installationsheets (Item 114) traveling down a road along with the integration of aservice area (item 1001) in a familiar toll plaza along the roadwayroute. Similar to the wind installation system, the solar installationsheets may be coupled to a battery outside or inside the vehicle (Item111).

FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart where one or more solar installationsheets and battery configuration are installed in a vehicle (Item 1095).The vehicle is deployed, registered within the system with theinstallation sheets installed (Item 1092) and activated to capture andstore energy in the batteries (Item 1093). Power is then gathered in thebatteries and stored as electricity (Item 1094) for power distribution(Item 8). The batteries then feed the instant vehicle with power that ismetered or the batteries are exchanged at a service center (1094) andthe power gathered in the batteries is used feed power into the grid(Item 81) after being sent through an inverter which brings the powerinto the proper technical condition for the grid according tospecifications provided by the grid operator, or to power anothervehicle (Item 82), direct power a business or home (Item 83) or to havethe energy stored in a reserve power form such as batteries or via amanufacture and storage of hydrogen by using the extra power to fuel theelectrolysis of water to create hydrogen (Item 84).

FIG. 26 illustrates portable solar and wind installation sheets beinginstalled (1096) in tandem separately and as unified, single sheetsgathering both wind and solar energy simultaneously. The installation,acquisition and customer service station centers (Item 1001) functionidentically as in the previous Figures. The surfaces of the turbinesheets including the turbines themselves may be sprayed with spray onpower cells to maximize the potential of simultaneous solar and windenergy gathering from the same installation panel. Alternatively thesolar material may be non-silicon film or standard silicon panelizedstructure. Wiring on the installation sheets may be dual in nature withsolar energy going into specific batteries and wind energy into its ownbatteries or the energy may be put into the same batteries. Solar energymay also be used to power the wind turbines, thus creating only windenergy that is being used to charge the battery or battery array.

FIG. 27 illustrates an overhead view of a vehicle installed with thesolar and wind integrated panels (Item 115). These panels mayincorporate both solar and wind gathering systems in a singleinstallation sheet or separately with wind alone installation sheets andsolar alone installation sheets functioning and simultaneously deployedon a vehicle (Item 1000) participating in the system. The compositeillustration of the installation sheet once again demonstrates tinyhelix designed turbines, too small to be legibly seen without compositeform drawing deployed on the vehicle with attendant solar gatheringmaterials incorporated within the surface of the same installationsheets. Energy gathered by the sheets is transferred to the batteryarray (Item 111).

FIG. 28 illustrates an overhead view vehicles deployed with solar andwind installation sheets (Item 115) moving in and out of service centerareas (Item 1001) for the installation, registration, updating andmaintenance of the solar and wind energy generating devices. Systeminstallation sheets are displayed deployed on vehicles and compositediagrams give a feel for the large amount of tiny wind turbines that canbe deployed on a single vehicle installation sheet. As charged batteries(Item 111) are collected at the service center (Item 1001) power isdistributed using inverters and meters to store, condition, transmit andtrack power distributed from the system for direct use in vehicles (Item82), for use in the utility grid (Item 81), for use in 3rd partyvehicles (Item 82), which may pick up charged batteries as they passthrough the service center, for direct powering of homes and businesses(Item 83) and for storage as reserve battery power or utilizing thebattery energy to conduct the electrolysis of hydrogen for use inhydrogen powered systems as well as for storage of reserve energy (Item84).

FIG. 29 illustrates a flow chart that combines the flow of energygenerated by both wind (Item 1090) and solar installation sheets (Item1095) into the portable vehicle system (Item 1092), or solar energy maybe used to power the wind energy installation and create a uniform, windenergy only, power source flowing into the battery or battery array(Item 1093). The vehicle is deployed (Item 1092), registered within thesystem with the installation sheets installed and activated to captureand store energy in the batteries (Item 1093). Power is then gathered inthe batteries and stored as electricity. The batteries then feed theinstant vehicle with power that is metered or the batteries areexchanged at a service center (Item 1094) and the power gathered in thebatteries is distributed (Item 8) to be used feed power into the grid(Item 81) after being sent through an inverter which brings the powerinto the proper technical condition for the grid according tospecifications provided by the grid operator, or to power anothervehicle (Item 82), direct power a business or home (Item 83) or to havethe energy stored in a reserve power form such as batteries or via amanufacture and storage of hydrogen by using the extra battery power tofuel the electrolysis of water to create hydrogen, which may be storedcompressed and utilized for hydrogen engines or converted back toelectricity using hydrogen fuel cell technology and distributed to thirdparties at times when peak energy needs create premium pricing demand(Item 84).

FIG. 30 illustrates an integration of the fixed & portable roadwayintegrated wind and solar energy gathering roadway system. Ground andvehicle-based wind energy generating devices of different type alongwith ground and vehicle-based solar energy generating devices ofdifferent type are shown schematically (e.g., solar thin film formed onwind turbine generators of different size (Item 107), photovoltaic painton roadway lines (Item 105), solar thin film formed onto roadside andmedian guardrails (Item 106), photovoltaic paint on vehicles (Item 114),solar/wind turbine generator panels/installation sheets on vehicles(Item 109), solar panels with small/micro wind turbines on roadwaymedian and edge of breakdown lane (Item 108). Power gathered thesevarious energy generating devices is transferred ground and vehiclebased energy storage systems, for example, ground and vehicle-basedbatteries and battery arrays (Items 33 and 111) for storing. Thebatteries then feed the system with power that is metered (Item 35) orthe batteries are exchanged at a service center (Item 1001) and thepower gathered in the batteries (Item 111) is used feed power, either ata service center (Item 1001) or along a convenient roadway location intoa utility grid (Item 81) after being sent through an inverter (Item 35)which brings the power into the proper technical condition for the gridaccording to specifications provided by the grid operator, or to poweranother vehicle (Item 82), direct power a business or home (Item 83) orto have the energy stored in a reserve power form such as batteries orvia a manufacture and storage of hydrogen by using the extra batterypower to fuel the electrolysis of water to create hydrogen, which may bestored compressed and utilized for hydrogen engines or converted back toelectricity using hydrogen fuel cell technology and distributed to thirdparties at times when peak energy needs create premium pricing demand(Item 84). This integrated 4 pronged approach creates a comprehensiveclean energy power gathering system that may be deployed throughoutentire roadway and highway systems converting the massive availablespace and energy available to conversion into a stable clean energysource with efficient geographical infrastructure for distribution.

FIGS. 31 to 33 illustrate the implementation of the system across theentirety of a major roadway, herein being the Massachusetts Turnpike. Ineach of these Figures, a service area is shown as dot (Item 1001).Battery arrays which although represented in the Figure in a contiguousmanner due to spacing issues are actually (i.e., in the roadway system)spaced apart in implementation and are represented as solid black areas(Item 33). Roadway fixed solar and wind systems, in which thetechnologies may be utilized within the same implementation sheet, panelor turbine or utilized as separate technologies with wind turbinegenerators shown as dash-dotted areas (Item 16) and solar arrays shownas dotted areas (Item 100) and roadway lanes shown as dashed areas.FIGS. 31 and 32 show the first about 90 miles of the MassachusettsTurnpike. FIG. 33 represents the distribution of gathered power fedthrough the inverters and registered in meters to the various enddistribution points including direct powering of businesses (item 83),powering being sold back to the grid system (Item 80), power beingutilized by vehicles (Item 82) or stored as excess generated energy inthe form of auxiliary battery arrays or via the conversion to hydrogenby electrolysis and the subsequent storage of compressed hydrogen intanks to be sold back to the utility at times of peak need or value(Item 84). Vehicles outfitted with portable solar and wind gatheringsystems contemplated by this system would travel along this roadway andutilize the service areas and toll booths to install, maintain and insome cases receive credit for energy gathered by the system installedupon the vehicle (Item 1000).

FIG. 32 illustrates the flow chart of a full integration of the wind andsolar energy gathering roadway system. This flow chart features bothsolar and wind gathering fixed and portable systems (Items 100, 16, 1095and 1090) integrated into the flow chart with the portable vehiclesystem flow of energy generated by both wind and solar installationsheets into the portable vehicle system, or solar energy may be used topower the wind energy installation and create a uniform, wind energyonly, power source flowing into the battery or battery array (Items 34and 1093). The one or more vehicles are deployed (Item 1092), registeredwithin the system with the installation sheets installed and activatedto capture and store energy in the batteries (Item 1093). Power is thengathered in the batteries and stored as electricity. The batteries thenfeed the instant vehicle with power that is metered or the batteries(Item 1093) are exchanged at a service center (Item 1094) and the powergathered in the batteries is used to feed power into the grid afterbeing sent through an inverter which brings the power into the propertechnical condition for the grid (Item 81) according to specificationsprovided by the grid operator, or to power another vehicle (Item 9),direct power a business or home (Item 83) or to have the energy storedin a reserve power form such as batteries or via a manufacture andstorage of hydrogen by using the extra battery power to fuel theelectrolysis of water to create hydrogen, which may be stored compressedand utilized for hydrogen engines or converted back to electricity usinghydrogen fuel cell technology and distributed to third parties at timeswhen peak energy needs create premium pricing demand (Item 84). Thefixed wind and solar roadway systems illustrates a flow chart where bothwind and solar energy gathering devices as described in FIG. 14 transfertheir energy to batteries (Item 33) then to inverters (Item 34) thenregistering the amount of energy via the meters (Item 35) before beingdistributed to the utility grid (Item 81), vehicles (Item 82), directdistribution of homes (Item 83) and businesses or utilized as storedenergy via large battery arrays or via conversion to hydrogen to be heldin compressed tanks via the creation of hydrogen via electrolysis (Item84).

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

1. A portable wind energy gathering system to gather wind energy anddeposit wind generated energy for system credit, the system comprising:a wind energy gathering device to gather wind energy and generate windgenerated energy; a energy storage system, electrically coupled to thewind energy gathering device, to store wind generated energy; means fordepositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit; and aconfiguration of any one or combination of the wind energy gatheringdevice, the energy storage system, and the means for depositing thestored wind generated energy for system credit, the configurationadapted to at least be movable from a first location to a secondlocation.
 2. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration isprovided to a participant of the portable wind energy gathering systemat substantially no cost.
 3. The portable system of claim 1 wherein theconfiguration is adapted to be installed and removed by a participant ofthe portable wind energy gathering system with no technical skill ortraining.
 4. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration isadapted to be installed and removed by a participant of the portablewind energy gathering system with common tools or no tools.
 5. Theportable system of claim 1 wherein the configuration is dimensioned tobe movable from the first location to the second location by aparticipant of typical build and strength.
 6. The portable system ofclaim 1 wherein the configuration is constructed to withstand beingmoved from the first location to the second location.
 7. The portablesystem of claim 1 further comprising means for removably affixing theconfiguration to a vehicle participating in the portable wind energygathering system.
 8. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the windenergy gathering device is at least one small helix wind turbine.
 9. Theportable system of claim 8 wherein the at least one small helix windturbine is secured to a small helix wind turbine installation sheet. 10.The portable system of claim 1 wherein the wind energy gathering deviceis adapted to gather wind energy created by any combination of:atmospheric wind, air movement caused by other vehicles or objects, andair movement caused by a moving vehicle to which the portable windenergy gathering system is removably affixed.
 11. The portable system ofclaim 1 wherein the wind energy gathering device is adapted to gatherwind energy from incident wind striking the wind energy gathering deviceor some portion of the wind energy gathering device.
 12. The portablesystem of claim 1 wherein the energy storage system is any one orcombination of: a dry cell battery, a wet cell battery, a gel cellbattery, a fuel cell battery, a thin film battery, and a nanobattery.13. The portable system of claim 1 wherein the means for depositing thestored wind generated energy for system credit is a first batteryadapted to be readily exchanged with a second battery.
 14. The portablesystem of claim 1 wherein the means for depositing the stored windgenerated energy is any one or combination of an electrical connector oftype: plug, socket and paddle.
 15. The portable system of claim 1further comprising means for distributing deposited wind generatedenergy.
 16. The portable system of claim 15 wherein the means fordistributing the deposited wind generated energy is a roadway systemelectricity grid.
 17. The portable system of claim 1 further comprisingan inverter to power condition the wind generated energy.
 18. A methodfor gathering wind energy and depositing wind generated energy forsystem credit, the method comprising: gathering wind energy andgenerating wind generated energy using a wind energy gathering device;storing the generated wind generated energy in an energy storage system;and depositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit in aportable wind energy gathering system.
 19. The method of claim 18wherein gathering wind energy includes gathering any combination of:atmospheric wind, air movement caused by other vehicles or objects, andair movement caused by a moving vehicle to which the wind energygathering device is removably affixed.
 20. The method of claim 18wherein gathering wind energy includes gathering wind energy fromincident wind striking the wind energy gathering device or some portionof the wind energy gathering device.
 21. The method of claim 18 whereindepositing the stored wind generated energy for system credit includesexchanging a first battery for a second battery.
 22. The method of claim18 wherein depositing the stored wind generated energy for system creditincludes crediting a participant according to an amount of stored windgenerated energy deposited.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherein creditingthe participant includes crediting the participant with any type of atoll fee credit, cash payment, credit at a participating business, andcombinations thereof.
 24. The method of claim 18 wherein depositing thestored wind generated energy for system credit includes crediting aparticipant according to an amount of stored wind generated energy usedto power elements of a participating vehicle.
 25. The method of claim 18further comprising configuring any one or combination of the wind energygathering device, the energy storage system, and means for depositingthe stored wind generated energy for system credit into a configuration,the configuration adapted to at least be movable from a first locationto a second location.
 26. The method of claim 25 wherein configuringincludes adapting the configuration to be installed and removed by aparticipant of the portable wind energy gathering system with notechnical skill or training.
 27. The method of claim 25 whereinconfiguring includes adapting the configuration to be installed andremoved by a participant of the portable wind energy gathering systemwith common tools or no tools.
 28. The method of claim 25 whereinconfiguring includes dimensioning the configuration to be moved from thefirst location to the second location by a participant of typical buildand strength.
 29. The method of claim 25 wherein configuring includesconstructing the configuration to withstand being moved from the firstlocation to the second location.
 30. A portable apparatus for gatheringwind energy and depositing wind generated energy for system credit, theapparatus comprising: means for gathering wind energy and generatingwind generated energy; means for storing the generated wind generatedenergy; and means for depositing the stored wind generated energy forsystem credit in a portable wind energy gathering system.
 31. Theportable apparatus of claim 30 further comprising means for configuringany one or combination of the means for gathering wind energy andgenerating wind generated energy, the means for storing the generatedwind generated energy, and the means for depositing the stored windgenerated energy for system credit, the means for configuring adapted tobe at least movable from a first location to a second location.